A MAN has been jailed for stealing an ambulance fast response car.

Daniel Glover led police on a high-speed chase along the A12 after stealing the vehicle in Clacton in the early hours of New Year's Day.

The car was only brought to a halt when officers used a ‘stinger’ to burst its tyres.

Glover later told police he took the car to get home to London from a party.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard the marked Essex Ambulance vehicle was taken from Valley Road, on one of the service’s busiest nights of the year.

Glover was more than twice the drink-drive limit.

He claimed he did not know the vehicle was an ambulance car as it was dark at the time.

Glover, 26, of Old Ford Road, Mile End, east london, admitted charges of aggravated vehicle taking, drink driving, no insurance and obstructing police.

He was jailed for nine months and banned from driving for 18 months.